Healthcare Support
Psychiatric Aides
Also called: Developmental Aide, Mental Health Aide (MHA), Mental Health Worker (MHW), Psychiatric Aide
US median pay
$44,910
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+1.9%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
4,900
36,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff. May assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. May restrain violent patients. Includes psychiatric orderlies.
What they do day to day
- Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
- Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
- Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
- Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
- Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
- Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.
- Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.
- Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
- Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.
- Aid patients in becoming accustomed to hospital routines.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Service Orientation3.9/5
- Coordination3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Instructing3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
- Negotiation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Psychology4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.6/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.1/5
- English Language3.1/5
- Administrative3.0/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Some college46%
- High school diploma24%
- Post-secondary certificate16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.